International home education

While the UK is possibly the easiest country in the world for home education, it is also allowed in many other places, particularly for ex-patriates. If you are living away from your home culture, you may want to teach your children at home while you settle in and visit the local schools, or you might decide that it’s a good opportunity to try out home education long-term. If you are posted abroad temporarily, home education can be a good way of bridging the gap for your children, so that they are not disrupted by a totally new school system.

Details about international home education in some countries outside the UK are given in the following web sites.

Cyprus

Home education is not legal in Cyprus, although permission can theoretically be obtained from the Minister for Education. Some ex-pats educate their children at home without permission, although fewer than previously. Unfortunately different officials interpret the law in different ways, so you have to be prepared to stand your ground and be clear about your reasons for home educating. There is a Facebook page about Cyprus home education.

Denmark

Home education is officially recognised in Denmark although parents choosing to teach their children at home must have permission to do so. There do not seem to be many relevant sites, but there is one – in Danish only – about homeschooling in Denmark.

France

Home education is legal, although subject to some quite rigid restrictions and inspections. In recent months, the Education National has launched a campaign against homeschoolers who do not use the approved distance learning scheme, the CNED. While a few may be eligible for free courses, the majority have to pay.

Germany

Homeschooling is officially illegal in Germany, with everyone including foreigners supposed to send their children to school. However there are some German home educators: see Homeschoolng in Germany for a brief summary.

Hong Kong

Home education is not officially legal in Hong Kong, although as with other countries it seems to be acceptable for ex-pats to educate their children at home. See this site for a group of homeschoolers in Hong Kong who meet regularly.

Israel

Home education is legal in Israel. Although permission should officially be asked, many families educate at home without, and have no problems. See the Israel Home Education Association site for more details, and information about group meetings.

Italy

Home education is legal but not widely known in Italy. It is officially known as ‘scuola paterna’. The legal reference allowing this is: Testo unico D.L. 16/4/94 n. 297 n. 297, titolo II art. 11 secondo comma G.U. serie generale, n. 79 del 19.5.94. A reference from the public istitution for education in Italy: Ministero P.I., Sig.ra Pazienti, 06 58495845.

There is a mailing list for Italian home educators (in Italian). If you prefer something in English, there’s also a blog about home education in Italy with some useful links. Look for earlier posts about legal information.

Japan

The law in Japan is uncertain – there are many school refusers who receive no education at all, and there are certainly foreigners home educating. Some Japanese citizens are campaigning for changes to the law. The Education in Japan site has a useful post about homeschooling in Japan.

Sweden

Home education has been legal in Sweden until recently; unfortunatey it has now become much more difficult. You can find out more from an organisation who are trying to promote this option, at The Swedish Association for Home Education.

Switzerland

United States of America

Home Education is legal in each of the 50 States, but there are regulations and requirements in several of them. A web search for ‘homeschool’ will find hundreds of sites about home education in the USA. You can find current information and articles, including details of the requirements in each State at: a2z homeschooling

Miscellaneous

The following are sites which have general information about home education in other countries:

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